METHOD FOR DISINFECTING WATER SUCH AS DRAIN WATER IN HORTICULTURE, AND APPLIANCE TO BE USED THEREWITH

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preventing and combating harmful microorganisms such as fungi, viruses, bacteria, yeasts and algae in water circulation systems, wherein the water, including feed solutions and drain water, has a disinfectant added to it which at least comprises performic acid, and to an appliance suitable for implementing this method, the disinfectant comprising a combination of performic acid and hydrogen peroxide.

Description: Method for disinfecting water such as drain water in horticulture, and appliance to be used therewith. The invention relates to a method for disinfecting water or aqueous solutions, for example water and drain water in horti¬ culture, i.e. to a method for preventing and combating harmful microorganisms such as fungi, viruses, bacteria, yeasts and algae, for example in horticulture, in particular in the field of hydro- ponies, e.g. in chicory or Belgian or French endive cultures. Such a method of the last-mentioned type is disclosed by the East German Patent No. 239109. This involves treating feed solutions and/or water with a hydrogen peroxide solution, the ultimate concen¬ tration thereof being tailored to each particular purpose. The water intended for feed solutions is preferably mixed with at least 150 ml of 3% strength hydrogen peroxide solution per m 3 a day. Feed solutions containing pathogenic germs may form a major problem in horticulture, in particular in hydroponics. For example, in the water employed in horticulture (for example rainwater, ground water and ditch water) germs of plant diseases are present, such as fungi, bacteria, viruses and algae. Such microorganisms may also be present in so-called drain water or recirculation water, i.e. aqueous liquids which are recovered after they have passed through the culture substrate. In addition to the abovementioned disinfection method with the aid of hydrogen peroxide, disinfection methods such as heating, ozone treatment and UV radiation are generally known. The known methods have drawbacks, however. For example, the methods mentioned are often expensive and have an adverse effect on the treated liquid. The known method in which hydrogen peroxide is used has the further drawback that considerable amounts have to be employed, which has an adverse effect on the chemical composition of the treated water and to the plants. The present invention overcomes the abovementioned drawbacks. The invention relates to a method for preventing and combating harmful microorganisms such as fungi, viruses, bacteria, yeasts and algae in water circulation systems, wherein the water, including feed solutions and drain water, has a disinfectant added to it which at least comprises performic acid. The term "water circulation systems" refers to all water- carrying systems of which the aqueous liquid is to be subjected to a disinfection treatment. This may involve cooling water in various industrial applications, (waste) water of fish and meat processing plants, water in closed circulation systems ("recycle water"), but also municipal and industrial (waste) water which is desired to be disinfected before (re-)use or "dumping" in vulnerable or sensitive environmental waters such as lakes and rivers. A particular field of application is in horticulture. In general it is therefore a question of the disinfection of water-containing influents and effluents. The performic acid is preferably used together with another disinfectant, in particular hydrogen peroxide, formic acid possibly also being present. It was found that, for example, fungal spores in drain water are killed at as low a concentration of performic acid as 10 ppm in the treated water. The total treatment time in this case is only a few minutes, for example 5 minutes. In order to destroy the pathogenic germs, in particular fungi, in the water to a significant extent, a concentration of 5-100 ppm of performic acid is desirable. The maximum performic acid concentration is preferably at most 200 ppm. Viruses present in the water are completely eliminated at a concentration of 50-200 ppm. For the purpose of eliminating virus particles, a limit of 0 ppm may be assumed, to be on the safe side. It was found that a concentration of more than 100 ppm of performic acid does not provide any further destructive effects. On the basis of the above, the method according to the invention preferably employs an amount of performic acid of 1-100 ppm in the water. The treatment time is preferably between 0.5 and 60 minutes. Longer treatment times are possible but not necessary. It has been found that performic acid concentrations employed according to the invention do not ultimately have an adverse affect on the plants which are treated with water containing the performic acid. Of course the sensitivity to performic acid differs for various plants. As has already been reported, the performic acid is preferably used in combination with hydrogen peroxide. In so doing, the amounts of hydrogen peroxide are smaller than the amounts used according to the prior art. In general, an amount of 25-2500 ppm of hydrogen peroxide, preferably 100-1500 ppm, may be used. The excellent effect of performic acid in the method according to the invention, on its own or in combination with another oxidant such as hydrogen peroxide, is surprising. In addition there was the problem that performic acid is an unstable compound which may even be explosive. According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the performic acid employed as a disinfectant is prepared in situ, i.e. from formic acid and hydrogen peroxide. The preparation of per¬ formic acid requires equivalent amounts of formic acid and hydrogen peroxide, but preferably hydrogen peroxide is present in excess. In particular, the molar ratio of formic acid and hydrogen peroxide may be from 1:10 to 10:1, for example 1:1 to 1:5. A typical mixture of performic acid and the starting materials, which mixture may be used as a disinfectant according to the invention, contains approximately 30-40 mol of formic acid, approximately 40-60 mol% of hydrogen per¬ oxide and approximately 10-20 mol% of performic acid. For the purpose of in situ preparation of the performic acid, technical-grade formic acid of high concentration, for example 98 , is preferentially employed. Hydrogen peroxide is employed in a con¬ centration of 20-50 by weight, preferably 35 by weight. Higher concentrations pose the risk of an explosion. As soon as the mixture, applicable according to the invention, of formic acid, hydrogen peroxide and performic acid comes into contact with the water to be treated, the equilibrium in the reaction mixture is shifted in the direction of the starting compounds, that is to say that performic acid is slowly converted back into formic acid and water. In general, the concentration of performic acid in the case of strong dilution in water decreases to such an extent after a period of 12-36 hours, that no effect or no optimal effect is achieved. Surprisingly it has been found that formic acid, which is formed from performic acid and which is in the solution in equi¬ librium with performic acid, is not increasing in concentration during the method of the invention, e.g. during the recycling process. The level of formic acid remains more or less constant or goes down. This means that plants are able to utilize formic acid from the disinfectant nutrient solution. This surprising phenomenon cannot be derived from the prior art. In other words, nothing is known about plants consuming or taking up formic acid through their roots. The invention also relates to an appliance suitable for implementing the method described above comprising a reservoir for hydrogen peroxide and a reservoir for formic acid, which reservoirs are each connected to a separate line, provided with feed means, for feeding hydrogen peroxide and formic acid, respectively, to a mixing vessel, which is connected, via a discharge line provided with metering means, to a product reservoir for the finished product, which product reservoir comprises sensor means for monitoring the product quantity in the product reservoir, and dispensing means for the product, control means being provided which are connected, firstly, to the sensor means and, secondly, to the metering means for opening, on the basis of a demand for the product signalled by the sensor means, the metering means after a predetermined residence time of the mixture of hydrogen peroxide and formic acid in the vessel has elapsed. In particular, the invention relates to an appliance, wherein the control means contain a memory which contains information regarding the minimum required residence time of the mixture in the vessel, a clock for determining the actual residence time of the mixture, and a comparator for comparing the minimum required resi¬ dence time, stored in the memory, with the actual residence time indicated by the clock, and for emitting a signal to the valve when the actual residence time has become equal to the minimum required residence time. According to a further preferred embodiment, the invention relates to an appliance wherein the control means are also connected to the feed means for switching on the feed means on the basis of a demand for product signalled by the sensor means, the control means comprising a further memory in which information is stored concerning the degree of fullness of the mixing vessel, in such a way that the control means switch on the feed means only if the mixing vessel is at least partially empty. It is further preferable for the dispensing means, in the appliance according to the invention, to be connected to a de¬ contaminating vessel, opening into which there is also a feed line for contaminated liquid. The invention is explained in more detail with reference to a figure. The appliance depicted in this figure comprises reservoirs (1) and (2) for hydrogen peroxide and for formic acid. Via lines (3) and (6) said substances can be fed to the mixing vessel (5) in which they reside for a predetermined time in order to form the desired product, viz. performic acid. This product can then be fed, via dis¬ charge line (8), to the product reservoir (10) whence it can be con¬ sumed as required. In the process, the performic acid is fed, via the line (12), to the decontaminating vessel ( l ) which is also fed via line (15) with waste water to be cleaned. The decontaminated liquid can then be discharged via line (16). In order to ensure correct operation of the appliance, con¬ trol means (17) are further provided. These are connected to a sensor (11) present in the product reservoir (10). As soon as the sensor (11) observes that the amount of product drops below a defined amount, it emits a signal to the control means (17). Said control means (17) have a memory in which information is stored con¬ cerning the amount of mixture present in the mixing vessel. The control means (17) also comprise a clock for determining the time span during which the mixture has already been present in the mixing vessel (10) . A comparator then determines whether that time span is at least equal to a predefined reaction time span necessary to form the desired product. As soon as the residence time of the mixture in the mixing vessel (5) has become equal to that reaction time span, the control means emit a signal to the valve (9), so that the valve opens and the product can be discharged to the product reservoir (10). As already mentioned, such a discharge of the product to the product reservoir (10) takes place only after a demand for product has been signalled by sensor (11). The control means are further connected to the pumps ( , 7) • As soon as the amount of mixture has been discharged from the mixing vessel (5). a signal is transmitted to the pumps (4, 7) for the pur¬ pose of restoring the level of the amount of mixture in the mixing vessel (5) • The decision whether or not to switch on the pumps is made on the basis of information in a further memory of the control means, in which further memory the degree of fullness of the mixing vessel is stored. This information may come, for example, from a further sensor in the mixing vessel (10). This information may also be derived from the answer to the question whether the valve (9) has opened after the pumps (4, 7) were last switched on. If the answer to this question is "yes", the vessel is emptied. The answer "no" indicates a full vessel. The invention is explained in more detail in the following examples. Example I A (1:1) molar equilibrium mixture of hydrogen peroxide and formic acid was prepared in the following manner: 100 ml of by weight formic acid were placed in a 1 litre conical flask, followed by the addition of 1^7 m l of 50% strength hydrogen peroxide. After mixing, the mixture was stored for 30 minutes prior to being used. An amount of 1 litre of a drain water sample from a tomato greenhouse was treated with 0.28 ml of the mixture, which cor- responds to 100 ppm of hydrogen peroxide (and 20-40 ppm of performic acid). Five other samples of 1 litre of the same drain water were treated with 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 ppm respectively, of hydrogen peroxide. After treatment, the samples were examined for the total number of bacteria and the results are summarized in Table A. Table A Amount of disinfectant Total number of aerobic bacteria * /ml Untreated 31000 Treated with H 2 0 2 100 ppm 2500 200 ppm 2200 500 ppm 1550 1000 ppm 1200 2000 ppm 500 H 2 0 2 /performic acid mixture 100 ppm (as H 2 0 2 ) 33 Average of three samples Example II A mixture of one part of drain water and one part of rain- water originating from a gerbera greenhouse was treated with an equilibrium mixture which had been prepared in the same way as in Example I. An amount of 19. ml of this mixture was added to 7 litres of the water mixture to be treated, followed by thorough mixing. After one hour, a sample of the water was examined for bacteria, and the water was used as drinking water for gerberas in the hothouse. This treatment was repeated daily for 12 days. The results of the bacterial analysis are shown in Table B. Table B Bacterial analysis Aerobic Entero- Fungus Pseudo- germ bacter- /ml roonas/m count/ iacea/ml ml Day Sample 1 Untreated drain water 4500 35 17 1000 Untreated rainwater 50 0 1 5 Treated water mixture <50 0 0 0 4 Untreated water mixture 1300 11 10 600 Treated water mixture <50 0 1 0 5 Untreated water mixture 1600 8 4 650 Treated water mixture <50 0 0 0 6 Untreated water mixture 650 3 0 90 Treated water mixture <50 0 0 0 7 Untreated water mixture 850 9 5 500 Treated water mixture 300 0 25 0 8 Untreated water mixture 600 28 5 240 Treated water mixture 50 0 0 ' 0 9 Untreated water mixture 1300 21 6 16 Treated water mixture 50 0 0 0 11 Untreated water mixture 3500 260 13 150 Treated water mixture 50 0 0 0 12 Untreated water mixture 16000 16 10 950 Treated water mixture 50 0 2 0 Average of three samples Example III A (1:2) molar equilibrium mixture of H 2 0 2 and formic acid was prepared by mixing 50 ml of 98% by weight formic acid and 147 ml of 50% by weight H 2 0 2 . The solution obtained was stored for 2 hours before it was used. 4 samples of drain water, which contained 100,000 spores of fusarium oxispores per ml, were treated with 0, 10, 100 and 200 ppm (expressed as the amount of H 2 0 2 ) of the equilibrium mixture. The roots of 50 small tomato seedlings were immersed for 5 minutes in the treated drain water samples and were bedded out. After four weeks, the seedlings were examined for signs of fusarium infection. The results are shown in Table C. Table C Addition of the equilibrium Number of infected bedded-out mixture, expressed as ppm H 2 0 2 seedlings/total 0 50/50 10 46/50 100 0/50 200 0/50 Example IV An equilibrium mixture was prepared as in Example III. Five samples were infected with 100 ml of a tomato mosaic virus suspension per 100 litres of drain water. This amount was treated with, successively, 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 ppm (expressed as H 2 0 2 ) of the equilibrium mixture. The treated water was used according to the so-called bioassay method, which involves treatment by rubbing into the leaves of tobacco plants, using three plants per treatment. The number of infections on the leaves was counted after three days. The results are shown in Table D. Table D Concentration of the equilibrium Number of virus infections mixture in drain water, expressed as ppm H 2 0 2 0 4500 100 3200 200 366 300 31 400 1 Example V An equilibrium mixture was prepared as in Example III. Three samples of drain water, infected with spores of Pythium aphani- dermatum, were treated with, successively, 0, 50 and 100 ppm (expressed as H 2 0 2 ) of the equilibrium mixture. After a treatment time of 5 minutes, the treated samples did not show any growth of Pythium on agar plates. Example VI An equilibrium mixture was prepared as in Example III. This mixture was added to the water circulation of chicory forcing mix¬ tures in amounts of 100-200 ppm, as shown in Table E. Table E Day Cumulative amount of (per)formic acid found added formic acid in in ppm ppm 0 0 0 4 500 50 10 2000 < 25 This example illustrates that the plants are able to take up formic acid through their roots. In other cultures similar results were obtained.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Method for preventing and combating harmful microorganisms such as fungi, viruses, bacteria, yeasts and algae in water circulation systems, wherein the water, including feed solutions and drain water, has a disinfectant added to it which at least comprises performic acid. 2. Method according to Claim 1, wherein the disinfectant comprises a combination of performic acid and hydrogen peroxide and possibly formic acid. 3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein performic acid is added in an amount of 1-1000 ppm. 4. Method according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein hydrogen peroxide is added in an amount of 25-2500 ppm. 5- Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein performic acid is prepared in situ from formic acid and hydrogen peroxide. 6. Method according to Claim 5. wherein formic acid and hydrogen peroxide are employed in a molar ratio of from 1:10 to 10:1, preferably from 1:1 to 1:5. 7. Appliance for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a reservoir (1) for hydrogen per¬ oxide and a reservoir (2) for formic acid, which reservoirs (1, 2) are each connected to a separate line (3 and 6, respectively), provided with feed means (4 and 7. respectively), for feeding hydrogen peroxide and formic acid, respectively, to a mixing vessel (5), which is connected, via a discharge line (8) provided with metering means (9). to a product reservoir (10) for the finished product, which product reservoir comprises sensor means (11) for monitoring the product quantity in the product reservoir (10), and dispensing means (12, 13) for the product, control means (17) being provided which are connected, firstly, to the sensor means (11) and, secondly, to the metering means (9) for opening, on the basis of a demand for the product signalled by the sensor means (11) , the metering means (9) after a predetermined residence time of the mix¬ ture of hydrogen peroxide and formic acid in the vessel has elapsed. 8. Appliance according to Claim 7. wherein the control means (17) contain a memory which contains information regarding the mini¬ mum required residence time of the mixture in the vessel, a clock for determining the actual residence time of the mixture, and a comparator for comparing the minimum required residence time, stored in the memory, with the actual residence time indicated by the clock, and for emitting a signal to the valve (9) when the actual residence time has become equal to the minimum required residence time. « Appliance according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein the control means (17) are also connected to the feed means (4, 7) for switching on the feed means (4 and 7. respectively) on the basis of a demand for product signalled by the sensor means (11), the control means comprising a further memory in which information is stored concerning the degree of fullness of the mixing vessel, in such a way that the control means switch on the feed means only if the mixing vessel is at least partially empty. 10. Appliance according to Claim 7. wherein the dispensing means (12, 13) are connected to a decontaminating vessel (14), opening into which there is also a feed line (15) for contaminated liquid. * * *

Inventors: EVERSDIJK ARNHOUT LEONARD, MATTILA TAPIO, EVERSDIJK, ARNHOUT, LEONARD, MATTILA, TAPIO
Applicants: EVERSDIJK ARNHOUT LEONARD, KEMIRA PEROXIDES BV, MATTILA TAPIO, EVERSDIJK, ARNHOUT, LEONARD, KEMIRA PEROXIDES B.V., MATTILA, TAPIO
Application year: 1994
Main classification: C02F1
IPC codes: C02F1